Different species require different diets and seed size should be suitable. Storage of seeds can reduce nutrient value, so it is always necessary to supplement with fresh water.

However, birds can be incredibly suspicious of new foods and may take a long time to accept anything new that is offered,

There are species differences in grit requirements also, although most birds don’t appear to suffer any digestive problems if grit is not available. Soluble grit, oyster shell and cuttlebone is a source of calcium and trace minerals, whereas insoluble grit such as sand, can aid in seed digestion. A mixture of soluble and insoluble grit should be available.

In an aviary situation, competition over food can be decreased by supplying multiple feeding sites.

Processed diets are available for most bird species, and can help to reduce deficiency diseases from poorly balanced diets, although it can take a while for birds to change onto it.

Parrots need a mixture of seeds as 60% of the diet, (only 20% of the diet should be sunflower seeds, or deficiencies develop), 10% of their diet should be fruit and vegetables. However never feed avocado as it is toxic.  Parrots need 25% of their diet to be protein, e.g., freshly cooked bones, hard-boiled eggs, peas or dog or cat biscuits.

Lorikeets do well on the commercial diets available, along with fruit and vegetables.

Canaries and finches need small seeds and a variety of fruit and vegetables, as well as protein from hard-boiled egg, or meal worms.

Hygiene of containers needs to be kept up at all times and soft or wet foods need to be discarded after only an hour or two, to prevent mould.